In Trust vs. Conflict, what results from meeting an infant's needs?

• A. Trust is established
• B. Autonomy is gained
• C. Initiative emerges
• D. Industry develops

Answer: (A)

Meeting an infant's needs builds trust. When a caregiver consistently responds to an infant’s signals—hunger, comfort, soothing, and safety—the infant learns that the world is reliable and that others can be depended upon to meet their needs. This creates a secure attachment and a sense of safety, laying a foundation for trusting relationships and confident exploration later on. The direct outcome in this stage is that trust is established.

The other outcomes come later. Autonomy grows as children become more independent and want to do things for themselves, initiative emerges as they begin to plan and carry out activities, and industry develops as they work to master skills in school-age years. But with infants, meeting needs primarily fosters trust.